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Collection online

Exaltation of Faro's Daughters.

Object type

Museum number

J,3.88

Title (object)

Exaltation of Faro's Daughters.

Description

Lady Buckinghamshire (left) and Lady Archer (right) stand side by side in the pillory, heads and hands closely confined, their heads in profile to the right, weeping angrily. Both wear tall feathers in their hair and large pendent ear-rings. Lady Buckinghamshire is forced to stand painfully on tip-toe, a short petticoat exposes her fat legs. On the front of the platform is a placard: 'Cure for Gambling Publish'd by Lord Kenyon in the Court of Kings Bench on May 9th 1796'. This is raised above the (freely sketched) heads of the crowd, with grinning upturned faces in the foreground. Eggs, a cat, &c. fly through the air; the pillory and the dresses of the victims are bespattered. On the right is a house with spectators in the windows. 12 May 1796Hand-coloured etching

School/style

Date

Production place

Materials

Technique

Dimensions

Inscriptions

Inscription Content

Lettered with title, text within image and publication detail: 'Pubd May 12th 1796, by H. Humphrey New Bond Street'.

Curator's comments

(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942) In a case in the King's Bench ('Nisi Prius') on 7 May, when one publican brought an action against another for payment of a note of hand for £12, the (successful) defence was that the sum was lost at whist in the house of the plaintiff, who had offered to sell the note for two guineas. Kenyon said, lamenting the prevalence of gaming, and wishing those 'of the highest ranks of society' who set the example could be punished: 'If any prosecutions are fairly brought before me, and the parties are justly convicted, whatever may be their rank or station in the country, though they should be the first ladies in the land, they shall certainly exhibit themselves in the Pillory.' 'Ann. Reg.', 1796, pp. 29*-30*. The faro-banks of these ladies were notorious, see BMSat 8075, &c. See also BMSats 8877, 8878, 8879, 8880, 9078, 9079, 9080, 9081.Grego, 'Gillray', p. 212. Wright and Evans, No. 425. Reprinted, 'G. W.G.', 1830. Reproduced, Paston, pl. li; 'Social England', ed Traill, 1904, v. 682.